The Brookhaven leader., 1887-08-04
MUEDERoUS MALAYS.

what the Phrase "Runuing Amuck" siguis
6.s in Oriental Countries.
Running amuck" Is phrase deriv-
ed from the Malay worl ''amok' ('kill-
inr"O and cons itutes a well-marked
hystcrical affection Of certain races iu-
habiting Oriental countries 1t Is
rarely, ever, manifested among the
quietetemp red Hindus, anil but seldom
among the Indian MuIsulmans. while
whenever it does occur in Hindostan,
the malady may generally be traced
to the abuse Of opiu II or h. extract of
hemp called bhang, ganja. or charas.
The Hindu tobacconist sells sp cial
confecion made up of bhang, opium,
datura, cloves, masic, cinnamon and
car,lamums, which is mixed with milk
and sugar and elten as a sweetmeat.
This d abolical cake-known "a NAHUM
will drive a man mad about as soon
as any thing. With the MlIays. how
ever who have given a name TO the
terrible mental alteration OF which
we speak. and who are far the most
addicted TO it of all Eastern people,
there is seldom any such ex-
planato on of the outbreak. 5 d.
denly. without rhymes or reason,
man will spring up from his shop
board or his couch, draw his kris-the
wave-bladed dagger which they all
carry-and, with a scream OF ''Amok'
.Amokt' strike its point into the heart
Of the nearest wayfarcr and dart down
the crowded bazlr like the lunatic
! which he is. stabbing and cutting on
all sides. "Amok! Amokl' echoes
from hundred mouths, and every
body hurries for a place Of refuge.
| fleeing in all directions, except those
bolder spirits who snatch up weapons
of Tense and join the armed throng
which pursues the desperate. The
| path Of the chase is soon strtw with
bodies of men, women and children,
dead or bleeling to death. until some
lucky shot or daring thrust disable5
| the murderer, who is pierced with
| dozen blades as ,on as he falls 10 the
! ground. Occasionally it turns out that
the "amoker" has received some per-.
sonal affront or inj Try or was hope
lcssly in debt or disappointed II love;
but more commonly there is nothing
whatever 10 account for the wild fury
of his proceedings, and the street
swcepcrs drag his carcass aWay as
carclesylv as if leopard had been
slain in the public streets. So ordinary,
indeed, is the occurrence that in many
towns and cities where there lives q
large NJ LAY population an insru ment
is kept in readiness Mt every police
station called the "ameker ca cher
Il is something like an eel-sprar with
a very long handle. and so contr:ved
that two clastic-pointed spikes close
round the madman's neck and secure
him helplessIy when the iron prongs
are pushed against his nape from be-
hind
Neither rank nor wealth keeps a
Malay from this sudden access OF
homici lal mania if he has the predis-
position or has been greatly excited.
There was an instance at Sala'i"a, IN
the island of Java, where the r gent
was celebrating the marriage OF two
Of his daughters, and every body was
in festive and joyous u ood. Just,
however at the gavest moment of the
ceremonies, the Regents brother-in-
law, a high official, came rushing
through the procession. stabbinG
every DO ly he could get at with his
icweled kris The Regent himself.
coming up to inquire into the uproar,
was killed by single thrust, and 1t
was the brother of the Prince who ran
the "amoker" through the back with
q spear and brought him down, yet
not before he had slaughtered nine OF
the palace people and wounded six
others more or less severely.-LonIo1'
! le, egr0ph.